The Environmental Harm of the Tobacco Factory in Residential Areas of Bangladesh

Mahrukh Mohiuddin[1] and Nayeem Muhammad Abdullah[2]

Abstract

Reports submitted to regulatory authorities have highlighted that the country’s leading tobacco company—despite its public claims of adhering to environmental regulations—has been found in violation of key environmental standards. Moreover, there are concerns that the company wields significant influence over environmental policies, potentially stalling efforts to protect both the environment and public health.

The environmental impact of the tobacco industry in Bangladesh, particularly in residential areas, remains a critical yet often neglected issue. The proximity of tobacco processing facilities to densely populated neighborhoods amplifies the exposure of local communities to harmful pollutants, significantly affecting air and water quality.

Background

Bangladesh is one of the largest tobacco producers in the world, with tobacco cultivation and processing forming a crucial part of its agricultural and industrial sectors. The industry provides employment to millions and contributes significantly to government revenues.¹ However, the environmental and health impacts of tobacco production, particularly in residential areas, are profound. The toxic emissions from tobacco processing plants, the use of harmful chemicals in tobacco farming, and the improper disposal of tobacco waste contribute to environmental degradation and pose health risks to nearby communities.

Tobacco use prevalence in Bangladesh is of 43.7% and country’s tobacco market is worth over US$4.5 billion and the British American Tobacco Bangladesh dominates it with a market share of over 84.5%.² BATB’s closest competitor is Japan Tobacco International (JTI), with a market share of over 9% following its 2018 acquisition of the United Dhaka Tobacco Company Limited (UDTCL)³.

Research Objective

The environmental impact of the tobacco industry in Bangladesh, particularly in residential areas, is a critical but often overlooked issue. The proximity of tobacco processing facilities to residential zones exacerbates the exposure of local communities to harmful pollutants, affecting air and water quality and leading to various health problems. Despite the known risks, there is a lack of comprehensive research and policy focus on mitigating the environmental and health impacts of the tobacco industry in these areas.

Strategy

To analyze the environmental impacts of the tobacco industry in residential areas of Bangladesh.

Explore how tobacco related industries get approval to set up factories in residential areas and what the rules say.

Finding out what policies and practices can mitigate the environmental and health hazards posed by the tobacco industry in residential areas.

The study applied a mixed-methods approach, combining qualitative and quantitative research methods. The research will draw on the following for collecting data:

• Government reports,
• Academic studies,
• Environmental assessments and review of laws and rules,
• Number of KII.

Government reports

Government reports acted as the key proofs of violations and adverse impact on the environment caused by the tobacco factories. The reports show how the factories ignore the standard and what level.

Literature Review

Review of laws and rules to tobacco control and environment conservation such as Bangladesh Environment Conservation Act of 1995, Bangladesh Water Act of 2013, Waste Management Rule, Smoking and Using of Tobacco Products (Control) Act of 2005, Environment Conservation Rules 1997, Environment Conservation Rules 2022.

Global Perspective on the Environmental Impact of the Tobacco Industry

Globally, the tobacco industry is recognized for its substantial environmental footprint. Tobacco cultivation requires extensive use of land and water resources, and the curing process emits significant amounts of pollutants. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), tobacco farming contributes to deforestation, water pollution, and soil degradation, particularly in developing countries where environmental regulations are often lax. The manufacturing and disposal of tobacco products also generate hazardous waste, contributing to land and water pollution.⁴

Bangladesh: Tobacco Use and Industry Influence

Bangladesh, a South Asian country in the World Health Organization’s (WHO) South-East Asia Region, has a population of 171.2 million and faces a significant tobacco use challenge.⁵ The overall prevalence of tobacco use is 43.7%, with smoking rates at 23.5% and smokeless tobacco (SLT) use even higher at 27.5%. ⁶

The country ratified the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) in 2004 but has yet to ratify the Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products.

The Bangladeshi cigarette market is dominated by British American Tobacco Bangladesh, followed by United Dhaka Tobacco Company Limited, the local subsidiary of Japan Tobacco International. Additionally, the market includes local producers of cigarettes, bidi, and SLT products.

The tobacco industry in Bangladesh has employed various tactics to influence policy and undermine tobacco control efforts.

 

Impact of tobacco industry on Bangladesh environment

 

Research findings reveal that tobacco farming significantly degrades ecosystems and natural resources, causing a range of adverse effects. Key issues include habitat destruction, loss of biodiversity, and increased mortality of domestic animals. The farming practices associated with tobacco cultivation, such as excessive plowing and the intensive use of pesticides, exacerbate soil erosion, water contamination, and air pollution. While processing tobacco leaves, it also leaves severe impact through water contamination, and air pollution. These environmental changes contribute to health problems, including skin diseases and respiratory issues among local communities.

Impact on agriculture

People involved with tobacco farming said, before introducing tobacco, different plant species supported varieties of bird habitats and bred in Khas (fallow) land. Nevertheless, after tobacco cultivation, animals are losing habitat, and influential people are clearing bushy species. Besides tobacco cultivation on arable land also leave them infertile and it becomes tough to grow other crops on that land.

Impact by curing, processing and factories

It takes a lot of fuel to cure tobacco leaves and in most cases the farmers depend on wood. And in some cases few use coal. While curing, black smoke spread in the surrounding along with the bad smell of tobacco roasting. Most of the factories do not have effluent treatment plants thus pollute air and water.

Impact of tobacco industry in residential areas

We tried to explore the impact of tobacco factories on residential areas and found some of the major factories are situated in core residential areas.

Why we chose BATB factory at Mohakhali

As one of factories of the British American Tobacco Bangladesh is situated in the heart of the capital Dhaka, we picked it carrying out an in-depth study on its environmental impact. We chose it as it is surrounded by a post residential area, big shopping mall and several educational institutions are situated nearby.

The BATB factory at Mohakhali, adjacent to posh residential area DOHS, was established as the second factory of the company in Bangladesh in 1965.

Registered as Bidi factory but doesn’t produce Bidi

While the BTAB does not produce bidi, the factory at Mohakhali is registered as a bidi factory   with the Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments although the company does not produce bidi.⁷ And the factory also had a red category factory clearance as per 1997 Environment Conservation Rules.

We have collected test reports of conducted by the Department of Environment on the factory’s environmental impact and found it pollution both water and air and there is also sound pollution at the factory surroundings.

Faced warning for pollution

According to reports of the Department of Environment, the factory faced warnings on December 13, 2021 for violation of rules regarding sound pollution and having toxic chemicals in its effluent treated.

Violation of pollution limit

Air pollution

On March 23, 2022, the sample collection team found Suspended Particulate Matter in the air of the factory much above the acceptable level. It was 288 microgram and the acceptable level is 200 microgram.⁸ on January 11, 2022, another team found SMP of 290 microgram and the acceptable level is 200.⁹

Public health risk from such air pollution

Dr Abu Hena Abid Zafr, Chief Medical Officer at Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, said, “Firstly, no factory should be allowed in residential areas. I don’t know why it was allowed. The presence of   Suspended Particulate Matter in air poses threats of respiratory problems among the residents and it is more lethal for the children.”

He said one of the major reason of being not aware of such cases is most people in Bangladesh ignore health hazards unless it becomes chronic. He suggested regular health check-up of the residents in the area so that they could suffer less.

Water Pollution

On January 11, 2022, another team from Department of Environment while examining the factory’s sewage treatment plant found prevalence of 1670 Coliform in per 100ml water and standard level is 1000 Coliform in 100ml water. The team also found 25mg of Nitrate per litre water and the standard limit 10mg per litre.¹⁰

On February 5, 2022, the DoE sample collectors found water released from the factory’s effluent treatment plant contain diluted oxygen, chemical oxygen demand and biochemical oxygen demand beyond the standard level. For diluted oxygen, the standard is 4.5-8mg per liter but there was 4.2mg per litre. The standard for chemical oxygen demand is 200mg per litre but the team found 990mg/L on the ETP inlet and 405mg/L on its outlet. Biochemical oxygen demand was supposed to be 50mg/L but it was 330mg/L on the inlet and 207mg/L on the outlet. ¹¹

Impact of water pollution

Professor Abdus Salam of Dhaka University Chemistry Department said usually tobacco factories release some heavy metals which are severely harmful for human health. He said it is important how the effluents are released. If in any way there remain any chance to contaminate drinking water, it would be lethal for human health.

Presence of coliforms in water worried Dr Abu Hena Abid Zafr. He said these bacteria can cause a number of diseases.

Sound Pollution

For sound pollution, the DoE team on several occasion found noise above the acceptable 60 decibel level when the factory was running.

The inspection results show the factory fails to maintain parameters of environmental pollution leaving severe impact on public health. ^{12, 13}

Ignoring public opinion

Though, the rules made it mandatory to seek public opinion from the residents of the locality, no document was found in this regard.

Environmental regulation

In Bangladesh, the environmental impacts of the tobacco industry are pronounced, particularly in regions where tobacco farming and processing are concentrated. Studies have documented significant deforestation in tobacco-growing areas, driven by the need for land and wood for curing tobacco leaves. The use of harmful pesticides and fertilizers in tobacco farming has led to soil degradation and water contamination, affecting both the environment and public health. The proximity of tobacco processing plants to residential areas exacerbates these issues, exposing communities to air and water pollution and increasing the risk of health problems.

Scenario of rules and regulations

The rules of the Environment Conservation Act were made in 1997and they were amended in 2023.

According to the 1997 rules, tobacco and tobacco processing industries fell under red category and setting up such factories in residential areas is totally prohibited. But the rules set up in 2023 put these factories under orange category that relaxes some conditions.

Orange Category industrial establishments or projects shall refer to those with substantial impacts on the environment and human health. While such establishments should ideally be avoided to protect the environment, their environmental impact must be significantly reduced through the implementation of appropriate pollution mitigation measures.

And the Red Category industrial establishments or projects pose severe risks to the environment and human health. To the greatest extent possible, these should be avoided. However, if unavoidable, substantial environmental pollution mitigation measures must be implemented to minimize their environmental impact.

The rules also made it mandatory to seek public opinion of the site area before issuance of environmental clearance for Red Category industrial establishments. The rules also prohibit establishing Red Category factory in residential areas.

Influencing and lobbying: Shift from red to orange category

Public health and tobacco campaigners say as the tobacco industry is so powerful and influential in Bangladesh, the influenced the authorities concerned to remove the industry from Red Category to Orange Category through constant lobbying.

According to industry insiders, the tobacco companies always maintain a good relation with the policymakers and influence them in their favour. It is an open secret in Bangladesh’s environment offices that the companies influence the staff of the departments.

The British American Tobacco co opts top bureaucrats¹⁴ in its board of directors against a meagre 0.64 per cent share in the name of the president of the republic. The government usually nominates a joint secretary of the finance ministry to the board.

But the company inducted most influential bureaucrats including the Prime Minister’s Principal Secretary, Senior Secretary of the Prime Minister’s Office, Industries Secretary, Labour Secretary, Defence Secretary to its board.¹⁵

The present board also features three secretaries of the government.

During past regime, these secretaries were most influential in the government policy making and they ensured undue benefits for the company.

When they fail to influence the policymakers on their own, they even opt for diplomatic pressure.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, when the government had austerity measures, the tobacco companies successfully obtained an exemption of Covid restrictions citing a 1965 law that defines tobacco products an essential commodity.¹⁶ There are also instances influencing the policymakers through diplomats. The British High Commissioner and the Japanese Ambassador¹⁷ in Dhaka had intervened into tax disputes between the country’s revenue agency and British American Tobacco Bangladesh and Japan Tobacco International.

Despite prevalence of some strong rules against tobacco processing, consumption and environmental issues, tobacco companies often ignore those utilising legal loopholes or influencing the regulators.

Gaps in the Regulatory Framework in Bangladesh

One of the key gaps in Bangladesh’s regulatory framework is the lack of specific regulations addressing the environmental impact of the tobacco industry. While general environmental laws exist, they are often not tailored to the unique challenges posed by tobacco cultivation and processing. Additionally, the monitoring and enforcement mechanisms for existing regulations are often inadequate, leading to widespread non-compliance and environmental harm.

International Guidelines and Best Practices

 

WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC)

Bangladesh is a signatory to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), which provides guidelines for reducing both the demand and supply of tobacco. Article 18 of the FCTC specifically addresses the protection of the environment and the health of persons involved in tobacco cultivation and manufacturing. Implementing these guidelines can help mitigate the environmental impact of the tobacco industry in residential areas.

Best Practices from Other Countries

Several countries have successfully implemented policies to reduce the environmental impact of the tobacco industry. For example, Brazil has introduced crop diversification programs that encourage farmers to switch from tobacco to less environmentally harmful crops. Malawi has implemented reforestation programs in tobacco-growing regions to restore forest cover and protect biodiversity. These best practices offer valuable lessons for Bangladesh in addressing the environmental challenges posed by tobacco in residential areas.

Recommendations

Strengthening environmental regulations, enforcing stricter controls on pollution

To mitigate the environmental harm of the tobacco industry in residential areas, Bangladesh needs to strengthen its environmental regulations. This includes enforcing stricter controls on air and water pollution, regulating the use of harmful chemicals in tobacco farming, and ensuring the proper disposal of industrial waste. The government should introduce penalties for non-compliance and invest in monitoring and enforcement mechanisms.

Strengthening international collaboration

Bangladesh should strengthen its collaboration with international organizations and other countries to address the environmental challenges posed by the tobacco industry. This includes participating in global initiatives such as the WHO FCTC and sharing best practices with other tobacco-producing countries. International collaboration can also provide access to technical and financial resources for implementing environmental protection measures.

Learning from successful models

Bangladesh can benefit from learning from the successful models implemented in other countries to reduce the environmental impact of tobacco. Engaging in international exchanges and partnerships can help Bangladesh adopt best practices and innovative solutions to mitigate the environmental and health risks associated with the tobacco industry in residential areas.

Conclusion

The environmental harm of the tobacco industry in residential areas of Bangladesh is a pressing issue that requires urgent attention. From air and water pollution to waste management challenges, the environmental impacts of tobacco cultivation and processing are significant and far-reaching. These environmental issues have profound socio-economic and health consequences for local communities.

References

10. UN Food and Agriculture Organization, Tobacco production, 1961 to 2020, Our World in Data, accessed March 2023
11. Euromonitor International, Company Shares 2017-2022, published May 2023, Bangladesh Country Profile, tobaccotactics.org
12. Euromonitor International, Company Shares 2017-2022, published May 2023, Bangladesh Country Profile, tobaccotactics.org
13. Tobacco and its environmental impact: an overview, 2017, WHO
14. World Bank, Population, total – Bangladesh, The World Bank Data, 2022, accessed March 2023
15. National Institute of Preventive and Social Medicine (NIPSOM), National STEPS Survey for Non-communicable Diseases Risk Factors in Bangladesh 2018, World Health Organization
16. Labour Inspection Management Application, Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments, প্রতিষ্ঠানের বিস্তারিত – কলকারখানা ও প্রতিষ্ঠান পরিদর্শন অধিদপ্তর
17. সনাক্তকরণ নং–২২.০২.০০০০.১১১.৬৮.৪৬০.২২.৪৭৪ পরিবেশ অধিদপ্তর, ঢাকা গবেষনাগার কার্যালয়, পরিবেশ ভবন, ই-১৬ আগারগাঁও, ঢাকা
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20. স্মারক নং– ২২.০২.০০০০.১১১.৬৮.৪৬০.২২.৭৬ পরিবেশ অধিদপ্তর, ঢাকা গবেষনাগার কার্যালয়, পরিবেশ ভবন, ই-১৬ আগারগাঁও, ঢাকা
21. স্মারক নং– ২২.০২.০০০০.১১১.৬৮.৪৬০.২১.৪৮৫ পরিবেশ অধিদপ্তর, ঢাকা গবেষনাগার কার্যালয়, পরিবেশ ভবন, ই-১৬ আগারগাঁও, ঢাকা
22. স্মারক নং– ২২.০২.০০০০.১১১.৬৮.৪৬০.১৯.৪৬৮ পরিবেশ অধিদপ্তর, ঢাকা গবেষনাগার কার্যালয়, পরিবেশ ভবন, ই-১৬ আগারগাঁও, ঢাকা
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24. Ekattor Television news titled সরকারী সচিবরা যখন সিগারেট ব্যবসায়ী aired on December 3, 2024. সরকারি সচিবরা যখন সিগারেট ব্যবসায়ী! | British American Tobacco | Ekattor TV
25. BATB deploys British High Commissioner to negotiate tax evasion battle worth Tk. 1924b-ATMA member exposed, The Daily Kalerkantho on 19th August 2017

Japan Ambassador’s letter to finance minister on January 19, 2021

[1] Public health expert and Researcher. Email- mahrukh.insight88@gmail.com

[2] Journalist and Researcher. Email- abdullah.juberee@gmail.com

Mahrukh Mohiuddin and Nayeem Muhammad Abdullah